SOILS FERTILIZERS. 1113 



The recent Parisian experiments on water sterilization by ozone, C. 

 Daagk (Eityiii. lice, o9 (lUOD), No. 7, p. 1S3). — ExiKjriiueiits with Siemeus-de 

 Frise ozouizers are reported. The treatment was found to be very effective in 

 (lestroyiiiic or.sanisuis in the water. 



On the sterilization of potable water by means of the mercury vapor lamp, 

 J. CouRMOAT and T. NoGiKK [Coinpi. Itend. Acad. tici. [Pari.'^], I'/S {1909), No. 

 S, pp. 523, 52Ji). — Experiments are reported which show that by the use of the 

 Kromayer mercury vapor lamp complete sterilization can be secured in from 1 

 to' 2 minutes, even when the samples are very highly polluted. 



Examinations of water, P. Miquel {Ann. Observ. Mntiic. (Ohserv. Mont- 

 souris) [Paris], 9 (1908), No. 1-2, pp. 29-62). — Detailed examinations of 

 potable waters of Paris and environs, sewage and drainage waters, and rain 

 water are reported. 



SOILS— FERTILIZERS. 



The soil, A. D. Hall' (London, 190S, 2. cd., rev. and cnh, pp XV+311, pis. 

 13, pgs. -'i). — This is a second revised and enlarged edition of this work, which is 

 described as an introduction to the scientific study of the growth of crops. 

 The principal changes which have been made are a revision of the method of 

 mechanical analysis of soils, modification of the author's views on the nature 

 of clay and on the absorption of ammonium and other salts by zeolitic silicates 

 in the soil, and enlargement and complete revision of the chapter on the living 

 organisms of the soil, besides numerous minor corrections and modifications. 



The genetic classification of soils, N. Tulaikov (Jour. Agr. Set., 3 (1908), 

 No. 1, pp. 80-8-5). — This is a brief descrii)tion of the genetic classification of 

 soils as worked out by Dokouchayev and Sibertzev in Russia (E. S. R., 12, pp. 

 7()4, 807; 19, p. 314) and partially adopted by Hilgard and Ramann. 



In this classification the word soil is taken to mean " the loose surface strata 

 of the earth's crust in which general dynamic processes (weathering, erosion, 

 etc.) have taken place, and are taking place in conjunction with chemieo- 

 biological processes." The classifi(ati(m includes 7 tyi)es. as follows: Laterite 

 soils, wind-blown loess soils, soils of the dry steppe, black soils (chernozem), 

 gray soils, peat and ashy (podzol) soils, and fenland (tundra) soils. These 

 7 fundamental groups of soils "are spread over the surface of large continents 

 in zones which coincide with the physico-geographical zones of those conti- 

 nents." 



It is stated that notwithstanding the seeming complexity of this classification, 

 " its fnndamentiil feature is the general statement that soil is the product of 

 Ihe-conditions of its development, and that the pec-uliMrities of soils are closely 

 interrelatetl." 



Soil investigations, I, K. O. Rjoklykkk (Tid.sKkr. Norskv Landhr., 15 

 (I'.XJS). No. II. pp. y.lG-oO.'i). — A discussion of the principles underlying the 

 prol»lem of soil studies. In this article considerable attention is given to 

 American work in this line, particularly to that of Hilgard. 



Biochemical studies in forest soils, R. Albert and A. Luther (.lour. Laudw., 

 56 (1908). No. .',. pp. .i.',7-370: nhx. in Chrm. ZcnthL, 1909, I. No. 7, /). 572).^ 

 The studies, which were made with four diluvial forest soils, included deter- 

 minations by Remy's method of putrefactive caitacity under different conditions 

 of season and water supply, nitrifying power by the liuhlert and Ficki-ndey 

 method, ferment.-itive power for soluble carbohydrates i)y the Reniy method, 

 and physical and chemic-il «'xaminations of the soils. The studies reported 

 are considered preliminary to fnrther investigations and tht'refore few con- 



